23 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Anxiety in Young People is an increasing issue. Some young people, for a multitude of reasons, wrestle with significant amounts of stress and anxiety. Anxiety is the body's normal response to a fear, real or perceived. However many children and young adults continue to experience feelings of anxiety when, in fact, there is little or nothing to be feared. Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts interfering with daily life. Parents play a crucial role and research suggests that "when we respond thoughtfully and calmly to a difficult situation, we show our kids how to respond in a similar way"(Raising Resilient Kids, 2018). Showing empathy can helps anxious kids feel validated. Reminding them they are thoughts and not facts. Another strategy involves "encouraging kids to practice deep breathing in between times of high anxiety".

Here at St James, we are fortunate enough to have the support of our counsellor (Karen Tyler) two days per week, students have the opportunity to seek this assistance if required, parents are also encouraged to make contact with Karen via the College Office. We encourage the use of these services which can further compliment any other support parents access.

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Congratulations to the St James and Sacred Heart students who last week received the Sacrament of First Eucharist.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers

Please support those in our community in need this Christmas by donating to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers

Important Notice

Department of Education Schools in the South of the State will be closed on Wednesday 28 November 2018 until 10:30am. This will NOT affect the bus services to and from St James Catholic College – they will run as normally scheduled.

God Bless, Allan Clark- Principal

General Notices

SMS Absence Notification

The College accepts SMS absentee notifications. Please SMS: 0488 863 246 with your child's name, grade and absent reason. Please save this number in your phone for future reference.

School Fees

Thank you to those families who have made fee payment arrangements and/or paid upfront for 2018. School Fees are now due and if you do not have a payment arrangement in place or are experiencing financial difficulty which is impacting your ability to pay, you are required to contact the College Business Manager. The College appreciates the sacrifices our families make for quality education and is here to support our families with these financial commitments, all conversations and payment arrangements are held in the strictest confidence. For a confidential discussion please contact Kelly Du Bois (Business Manager) via 62 951 541 or email: kelly.dubois@catholic.tas.edu.au

Student Medical Details Update

Please consider if your child's medical information has changed. If you haven't yet advised the school office, please do so. If you have previously supplied an epi-pen or other medication which may have since expired, please organise a replacement.

Little Lights – Birth to Four Program

College Uniform – Hats

College Facebook page

Join our College Facebook page. Just type in: @StJamesCatholicCollege in the Facebook search bar.

Canteen Meal Deal

Happening at SJCC

Huon Show

The College was well represented at this year’s Huon Agricultural Show. The College tent was a beacon to many with a fantastic wood raffle, iPad raffle, student work displays, plants, pictures and enrolment information, manned by some of our wonderful staff.

The wood raffle was a big success, thank you to Malcolm Thomas and the P&F for helping to chop and deliver the wood. Thank you to Chloe Carter from Carter’s Cakes for donating over 100 St James cookies to give out on the day!

Congratulations to our students who submitted pieces in the Schools’ exhibition in the artwork and cooking categories, see results below.

Cooking Results:

1st Prize Year 10

• Claire Blacklow: Biscuits
• Olivia Peatling: Fruit Muffins
• Jin Ju Redding: Banana Cake

1st Prize Year 9

• Paige Clifford: Biscuits

2nd Prize Year 10

• Lilly Greene: Biscuits
• Jordan Drusetta: Fruit Muffins
• Brooke Lutwyche: Christmas Cake

2nd Prize Year 9

• Codie Rawnsley: Biscuits

3rd Prize Year 10

• Jin Ju Redding: Biscuits
• Brooke Lutwyche: Christmas Cake

3rd Prize Year 9

• Hollie Hasell: Biscuits
• Thomas Reed: Fruit Muffins

Art Results:

1st Prize Year 10

• Lilly Greene

1st Prize Year 9

• Lucy Clifford

1st Prize Year 8

• Noah Redding

2nd Prize Year 7

• Connor Drusetta

Highly Commended

• Ellie Gregory
• Blake Patmore

iPad Raffle

Win an iPad!
Tickets will be sent home to families this week.
Extra tickets are available from the College Office.

BYOD 2019

The College is currently undertaking planning for 2019, part of this process involves the review of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Students in Years 3-10 will continue to require an iPad to be brought to school, each day, charged and ready for use.

In 2019, the minimum requirement for a student iPad is an iPad Air or newer.

Older devices will not be an acceptable option. If you do need to purchase a new iPad, the 2018 (9.7inch) iPad is the recommended option.

If an outright purchase of the iPad creates financial hardship for any families, there is an opportunity to pay a device levy of $120 per year to the College. If you wish to access this option, please contact our Business Manager, Mrs Kelly Du Bois on 62951 541 or email: kelly.dubois@catholic.tas.edu.au.

Upcoming Events: Save the Date!

From the Sports Desk

STCPSSA Athletics

On the 9th of November, students from Year 3 to Year 6 went on a bus to go to the Domain to compete in the Athletics Carnival for our school. When we got there we went over to our tent and put some sunscreen on to get ready for the field events that were on soon for us. In the field events, the students represented us well by competing in some of the common events like Vortex, High Jump and Long Jump. Some of the competitors did well enough to earn a ribbon. When the field events were over, the students had some food to eat and then got straight back into the action. In the relays, our teams did really well including the Year 6 boys coming second and Year 6 girls coming fourth. Thanks to all the staff and Mrs Thorpe who helped make the day a great one! Written by Harry Brereton and Lewis Direen.

Year 9/10 Activity Day

TBA

Community Notices

Way of St. James Pilgrimage – helpers needed

Numbers are looking very good for the Way of St. James Pilgrimage on 11-12 January 2019. Our Parish is supporting the Pilgrimage in many ways with one of these being catering for the pilgrims as they arrive in Cygnet on Saturday 12th. We give them afternoon tea while they wait till all arrive before walking in procession down to St. James Church. Kathy Cane is coordinating the afternoon tea and needs about 6 people willing to come and set up, make sandwiches, serve drinks etc, we also need the parish members to contribute a plate of food. Venue and timing to be confirmed but help will be from about noon till 4pm. If you are able to help please contact Kathy through the St. James school office Mondays or Thursdays.

Children’s Involvement at Christmas Eve Mass

6pm at St. James Church Cygnet

This year we are again inviting children to help act out the story of the Nativity as the Gospel reading. While we encourage children to come along dressed as angels, sheep, stars or shepherds we will have some costumes available on the day. However, we do need to have children pre-chosen as the following characters of Mary, Joseph, Inn Keeper and a lead shepherd, angel and star so that we can organize costumes and practice their roles. If any families are interested in their child or children taking on one of these roles please contact Kathy Cane by calling the school office at St James Catholic College on Mondays or Thursdays.

Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston Carnival Fair

Sacred Heart Catholic School in Geeveston will be holding its School “Carnival” Fair on Friday, 30th November from 3.30 – 7.00pm. The Fair will take place on the school grounds on the outskirts of Geeveston, and there will be ample parking both at the school and nearby Kermandie Oval. There will be a big variety of food stalls including a Spit Roast, Salmon, Italian, Seafood, BBQ, Jacket Potatoes, desserts and many more delicious treats.

There will also be a Craft Stall, Auction, Chocolate Wheel, Plants, Cake stall, fun activities for the children to enjoy and much more. Come along and enjoy some real country hospitality at the Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston, “Carnival” Fair.

Baptcare, together with SETAC and Aunty Flo from the Early Intervention Indigenous Liaison Program have organised a series of 6 NDIS info sessions during the first week of December. NDIS provides support to all people with a permanent and significant disability between 0-64 years old.

The sessions are:

For more information please contact:

Mirjam Holthuis,
Local Area Coordinator-Community (Baptcare)
M 0427 325 264 E mholthuis@baptcare.org.au